Verdejo is one of Spain’s most planted white grape varieties. It accounts for 8% of all white grapes planted in Spain and is grown all over the country from Rioja to La Mancha and Almansa, but its home is in Rueda in the Castilla y León region.

‘It is in the expansive region of Castilla y León where the Verdejo grape reigns,’ wrote Beth Willard in the introduction to Decanter’s 2022 Spanish Verdejo panel tasting. ‘High on the windy and sparsely populated plains of the Meseta Central, north of Madrid, the variety fully develops its showy lime and tropical aromas with racy acidity,’ she added.

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World Verdejo Day on Friday 14 June celebrates the grape variety in its myriad styles; as well as its classic unoaked incarnation which offers stone and tropical fruit and refreshing acidity, you can find oaked and even oxidised versions of this versatile grape.

Here’s a handful to enjoy on World Verdejo Day, or any day for that matter, including a 98-point scoring non-vintage wine, supermarket picks and one from Mendoza in Argentina.

World Verdejo Day: Top wines to try

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Beth Willard, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Christine Parkinson tasted 120 wines, with one Exceptional, one Oustanding and 77 Highly Recommended.

Spanish Verdejo panel tasting scores

120 wines tasted

Exceptional 1

Outstanding 1

Highly recommended 30

Recommended 75

Commended 9

Fair 2

Poor 1

Faulty 1

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their current-release vintages made from at least 85% Verdejo produced in any region of Spain.

Verdejo makes up a huge 40% of all white wine sold in Spain, and yet the most important producing region, Rueda, sends less than 15% of its wines to overseas markets. So what do the Spanish see in this variety that others are missing?

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top-scoring Spanish Verdejo wines

While grown throughout Spain, it is in the expansive region of Castilla y León where the Verdejo grape reigns. High on the windy and sparsely populated plains of the Meseta Central, north of Madrid, the variety fully develops its showy lime and tropical aromas with racy acidity.

This tasting aimed to attract Verdejo from all over Spain, and while there were a handful of wines from producers in Rioja, Zamora, La Mancha and Almansa, the majority (110 out of 120) were from DO Rueda. Sarah Jane Evans MW commented that ‘it was a shame there weren’t more examples from (Vino de la Tierra) Castilla y León, where producers are making some really exciting wines’, and are often operating outside the more restrictive rules of individual DOs.

Most of the wines tasted were from the 2020 vintage, with just a few older (but recent) vintages. While the tasting didn’t allow for a comprehensive comparison of regions and years, it certainly highlighted some important stylistic variations which are interesting to explore. The dorado (traditional, oxidative style) wine aside, half of the 12 top-scoring wines were unoaked, with the other half either oaked or with significant lees contact.

The wines that were more fruit-forward and unoaked offered typical Verdejo character – citrus fruit, pineapple, apple and nutty aromas – and were particularly praised for their concentration, intensity and palate weight. Evans noted ‘minerality, salinity and a refreshing bitterness’ as common themes.

The higher-scoring oaked wines, and wines with extended time on lees, lost nothing of the typicity of young and fresh Verdejo, but as Christine Parkinson explained: ‘Oak has given the wines complexity and toned down the fruit.’ The resulting wines offered more refinement and depth of flavour, somehow adding both volume and elegance at once.

Verdejo at a glance

Area planted 25,504ha (July 2020), just under half that volume planted in DO Rueda

Vineyard share Verdejo is the third most widely planted white variety behind Airén and Viura, and constitutes 8% of all whites planted in Spain

Regions All over Spain from Valencia to La Mancha and Rioja

Biggest growing area Castilla y León, which includes nine DOs; there are 72 wineries producing Verdejo in DO Rueda alone

There were many wines in this tasting that offered a reason why Verdejo is so popular in Spain. Consistency in aromas and flavours – as Parkinson noted, ‘vibrant and juicy citrus fruit’ – produces an approachable and easily understood style of wine. But as the scores show, the potential of the variety lies in its ability to produce weightier, more substantial wines with versatility in food matching, as well as an ability to age.

The highest-scoring wine, De Alberto’s Dorado NV, is atypical in the context of modern Verdejo, but offers a glimpse into the history of the variety and the region of Rueda, where fortified wines have been made for centuries. Made in demijohns exposed to the sun and then aged in a solera already 70 years old, the wine certainly rivals more famous fortified wines from Andalucía.

So what can you expect? The scores confirm consistency, intensity, a refreshing wine perfect as an aperitif and, at the higher end, a gastronomic white whose versatility and diversity has been underestimated – although not by Spanish drinkers.

The top scoring Spanish Verdejo wines: 

The judges

Beth Willard is buying director for independent merchant Winetraders UK, with a focus on Spain and Eastern Europe, and former buying manager at Direct Wines. A member of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros de Vino, she was a joint Regional Chair for Spain at DWWA 2021

Sarah Jane Evans MW is an awarded journalist, author and broadcaster, and a DWWA Co-Chair. Author of The Wines of Northern Spain (Infinite Ideas, 2018), she is also chair of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino

Christine Parkinson is co-founder of Brimful Drinks, developing products in the no & low-alcohol sector. She was formerly at Michelin-starred Hakkasan Group over 18 years as a buyer, latterly as its group head of wine. Numerous career awards include The Caterer’s Wine & Spirits Ambassador Catey in 2018

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In partnership with DO Rueda

Ideal pairing ideas....

Rueda wines with food

Like most wines there’s a difference between young Rueda and wines that have been aged in oak or on the lees and have a few of years bottle age. The former are arguably the most flexible, the latter the more subtle and complex.

Rueda’s mainstay, Verdejo, has much in common with Sauvignon Blanc with which it is sometimes blended.

Young Verdejos are bright and citrussy, a good match for summery food such as seafood and salads.

Unlike many other wines they’re not fazed by tomatoes, asparagus or sharp vinaigrettes.

They can deal with raw onion, olives and punchy sauces like allioli (garlic mayonnaise) and pair well with dishes with aromatic herbs such as dill and coriander.

They pair particularly well with grilled and fried fish – think grilled sardines, calamari and chipirones or even grilled octopus.

Rueda is a natural go to with shellfish such as mussels and clams or with a selection of seafood-based tapas – in fact it’s a great wine to take on a beach picnic.

You could also drink it with Mexican dishes such as guacamole, salsa fresca (fresh tomato salsa) and super-popular tacos or with the bright flavours of Asian noodle salads – it can handle a bit of fresh chilli.

Like Sauvignon Blanc it also has an affinity with fresh cheeses such as goats cheese, feta and pecorino – you could drink it with a Greek salad for example or a spanakopita (cheese and spinach pie).

Aged Rueda wines

Once Rueda has acquired a bit of bottle age it gains a weight and nuttiness that will carry richer fish dishes such as hake with garlic, gambas or fish dishes that are cooked in white wine or with a white wine sauce. It can also be paired with the local delicacy of Lechazo (baby lamb), with the ability to match with lighter red meats.

This is also the style to serve with Spain’s innumerable delicious rice dishes including, of course, a good seafood paella.

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Great value Rueda wine

Perfect to enjoy in the sunshine...

In partnership with DO Rueda

Perfect to enjoy in the sunshine, try one of these refreshing Ruedas....

DO Rueda is the only white wine denomination in Castilla y León, producing refreshing wines predominantly from Verdejo.

Verdejo typically has aromas of citrus fruits, flowers, herbs and some vegetative notes.

• Understand more about different wine aromas with tasting notes decoded.

Whilst smaller producers are doing exciting things at more premium prices, there’s still some great value to be found.

Some of our expert tasters have picked top value Rueda wines, all under £20. See them below.

This online article was created in association with DO Rueda. However, the wines featured below were tasted independently of this partnership and first appeared in Decanter magazine.

Great value Rueda wine

More on Rueda:

Rueda wines with food: Pairing ideas

Ideal pairing ideas...

a Decanter.com promotion

The wines of 2013 have finally arrived!

It’s time to discover the quality of the new vintage. The 2013 harvest brought a historic production record for the D.O. Rueda, with 99,828,394 kg of grapes harvested in the Designation of Origin (D.O.) Rueda. 98.2% of it were white grape varieties.

Once again the Verdejo grape – Rueda’s indigenous variety – was the Star of the Region providing 85.54% of the total production.

After a late and complicated harvest due to the climatic conditions, and thanks primarily to the hard work, efforts and professionalism of the 1,550 vine growers and the 62 wineries registered in the D.O. Rueda, the new Rueda wines are finally here ready to be enjoyed.

The perfect wine for every occasion

Rueda wines are versatile, food-friendly and consistently delicious. Perfect for parties, picnics and quiet evenings at home. They pair well with a huge variety of foods, from spicy cuisine to foods with high acidity such as tomatoes and ceviche. You´ll be surprised at their great value.

Verdejo, Rueda’s Signature Grape

Renowned for it´s zesty acidity and minerality, Verdejo is Spain´s favorite white wine grape. It may soon be yours.

Rueda wines are easy on the purse, easy-drinking, and perfect for sharing.

Look for Rueda on the label and get ready for the spring to come. Bring some sunshine to your everyday life enjoying some of the bright, crisp and fresh wines from Rueda.

Be the first to try the new 2013 vintage and celebrate life. Cheers!

Written by Wines of Rueda

A Decanter promotion

Rueda, Spain’s favourite white wine.

Rueda’s wines are versatile, food-friendly and consistently delicious. They are ideal for parties, family meetings and quiet evenings at home. You’ll be surprised at their great value for money.

Verdejo – the indigenous variety of Rueda – is Rueda’s signature grape; renowned for its zesty acidity and minerality. Given this, Rueda wines pair well with a huge variety of foods including: turkey, goose, duck, chicken, sausages, bread sauce, carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes and most other traditional festive dishes.

Rueda wines are easy on the purse, easy-drinking, and perfect for sharing. Look for Rueda on the label.

Written by John Abbott

Rueda wines, Spain's favourite white wine, are renowned for their zesty acidity and minerality.

VERDEJO, the indigenous Rueda variety is Spain’s beloved white wine grape.

This year’s harvest commenced on the 17th September and was one of the latest harvests in the history of Rueda D.O.

This year’s ‘vendimia’ (harvest) is expected to continue until late October.

Vineyards which have already started this year’s harvest claim that the grapes are in excellent condition.

The registered surface area for the Rueda D.O 2013 harvest is 12,932.44 ha; which shows an increase of 78.55 ha from last year’s vintage. 95% (12,242.19 ha) of the grapes grown in the region are white, and 85% (10,394.22 ha) are of the Verdejo variety.

Almost 90% of white grape varieties are grown in trellises. Subsequently, producers are able to effectively harvest their plots by machine without damaging the vines. This is fortunate given that producers in Rueda have to collect grapes by moonlight as a result of the intense heat in the region during the day.

As ‘Vendimia’ is conducted quickly and in cool temperatures, vine growers and oenologists believe the grapes are at their optimum when harvested using this method.

Written by Decanter